Information record medium, apparatus for recording the same and apparatus for reproducing the same

ABSTRACT

An information reproducing apparatus has a read device, is capable of reproducing sub picture information and is also capable of performing a highlight display of the sub picture information. In an information record medium to be reproduced by this reproducing apparatus, at least the sub picture information and reproduction control information to control a reproduction of the sub picture information are recorded on the record track such that the sub picture information and the reproduction control information are divided into a plurality of groups. Each of the groups is a predetermined unit able to be accessed by the information reproducing apparatus, and has a sub picture pack in which the sub picture information is contained and a control pack in which the reproduction control information is contained. The reproduction control information includes (i) highlight display control information prescribing at least one of the highlight display of the sub picture information and an operation control corresponding to the sub picture information and (ii) time management information indicating times to manage a start time and an end time respectively of at least one of an effective time period during which the highlight display is effective and an effective time period during which the operation control is effective.

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/862,457, filed on May23, 2001 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,567,612, which is a continuation ofapplication Ser. No. 09/440,290, filed on Nov. 15, 1999, now U.S. Pat.No. 6,266,478, which is a continuation of application Ser. No.08/831,716, filed on Apr. 1, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,088,506.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an information record medium such as anoptical disk of a high recording density type, which is capable ofrecording information such as video information, audio information andthe like at a high density, and which is represented by a DVD (DigitalVideo or Versatile Disk). The present invention also relates to arecording apparatus for recording the information onto the informationrecord medium, and a reproducing apparatus for reproducing theinformation from the information record medium.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventionally, a so-called LD (Laser Disk) and a so-called CD (CompactDisk) are generalized as optical disks, on which information such asvideo information, audio information and the like is recorded.

On the LD, the CD or the like, the video information and the audioinformation are recorded together with time information indicating atime at which each information is to be reproduced with respect to areproduction start position, which each LD or the like has, as astandard position. Thus, other than a general normal reproduction toreproduce the recorded information in the order of recording, variousspecial reproductions are possible, such as a reproduction to extractand listen to an only desirable music out of a plurality of recordedmusics, a reproduction to listen to the recorded musics in a randomorder and so on, in case of the CD, for example.

However, there is a problem that, according to the above mentioned CD,LD or the like, a so-called interactive and variegated reproduction isnot possible in which the audience can have a plurality of selectionbranches as for the video or audio information to be displayed orsound-outputted and in which the audience can select them to watch orlisten to it. Especially, it is not possible to perform such acomplicated reproduction that the audience can select a desirable menuon a so-called GUI (Graphical User Interface) picture plane, in which asub picture of a transparent user menu etc. is superimposed anddisplayed on a main picture.

On the other hand, various proposals and developments are being made asfor the DVD, as an optical disk in which the memory capacity is improvedby about ten times without changing the size of the optical disk itselfas compared with the aforementioned conventional CD. According to theknowledge of the present inventors, it is anticipated that it ispossible, as for the DVD having such a large memory capacity, to recordthe sub picture information in addition to the audio information and thevideo information, and constitute the aforementioned GUI picture planewhich is obtained by reproducing the main and sub pictures; and furtherhighlight-display one portion of the sub picture (e.g., display toemphasize one portion by changing the brightness and/or the chroma).Here, it is anticipated that a highlight-display of merely superimposinga static sub picture on a main picture can be realized rather easily byemploying the conventional technique of superimposing the subtitles on amovie. On the other hand, in this kind of DVD of a large memory capacitytype, it is anticipated that the aforementioned interactive reproductioncan be performed.

However, if the highlight-displayed portion of the sub picture is triedto be moved at a high speed, it is anticipated that the time controlwith respect to the highlight-displayed portion of the sub picture,which is reproduced on the basis of a plurality of informations such asthe main picture information (i.e. the video information), the subpicture information, the control information and soon, would becomplicated and difficult. In addition, in order to perform theinteractive reproduction on the display picture plane at the samefunction level as that of the personal computer, it is anticipated thatthe precise time management will be necessary for thehighlight-displayed portion of the sub picture.

Further, in the technical art of the DVD, the actuality is such that aperson having an ordinary skill in this art does not even recognize thesubject itself to move the highlight-displayed portion of the subpicture at a high speed or to realize the interactive reproduction onthe display picture plane at the same function level as that of thepersonal computer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide aninformation record medium, which enables a precise setting of aneffective time period of the highlight display or the operation controlof the sub picture, and also provide an apparatus for recording thesame, and an apparatus for reproducing the same.

The above object of the present invention can be achieved by aninformation record medium having a record track to be reproduced by aninformation reproducing apparatus. The information reproducing apparatusis provided with a read device, is capable of reproducing sub pictureinformation while relatively moving the read device along the recordtrack recorded with at least the sub picture information and is alsocapable of performing a highlight display of the sub pictureinformation. In the information record medium of the present invention,at least the sub picture information and reproduction controlinformation to control a reproduction of the sub picture information bythe information reproducing apparatus are recorded on the record tracksuch that the sub picture information and the reproduction controlinformation are divided into a plurality of groups, each of which is apredetermined unit able to be accessed by the information reproducingapparatus and each of which comprises a sub picture pack in which thesub picture information is contained and a control pack in which thereproduction control information is contained. The reproduction controlinformation comprises (i) highlight display control informationprescribing at least one of the highlight display of the sub pictureinformation and an operation control corresponding to the sub pictureinformation and (ii) time management information indicating times tomanage a start time and an end time respectively of at least one of aneffective time period during which the highlight display is effectiveand an effective time period during which the operation control iseffective by a predetermined unit finer than the predetermined unit ofthe data group.

According to the information record medium of the present invention, atleast the sub picture information and the reproduction controlinformation are recorded on the record track such that they are dividedinto a plurality of groups, each of which is a predetermined unit ableto be accessed by the information reproducing apparatus. Each of thegroups comprises the sub picture pack, in which the sub pictureinformation is contained, and the control pack, in which thereproduction control information is contained. Here, the reproductioncontrol information comprises (i) the highlight display controlinformation prescribing at least one of the highlight display of the subpicture information and the operation control corresponding to the subpicture information and (ii) the time management information indicatingtimes to manage the start time and the end time of at least one of theeffective time periods of the highlight display and the operationcontrol, by a predetermined unit finer than the predetermined unit ofthe data group. Thus, at the time of reproduction, it is possible toperform the highlight display and the operation control of the subpicture in accordance with the highlight display control information asthe occasion demand. And that, at the time of this performance, thestart and end of the effective time period of the highlight display andthe operation control can be set precisely as for the time in accordancewith the time management information, especially.

Accordingly, it is possible to perform the highlight display and theoperation control of the sub picture precisely as for the time, by useof a rather simple hardware construction and algorithm.

In one aspect of the information record medium of the present invention,respective one reproduction control information belonging to one datagroup comprises highlight identical information indicating whether thehighlight display and the operation control, which are same as thoseindicated by another reproduction control information belonging toanother data group located at a position on the record track to belogically reproduced in previous to the one data group by one unit ofthe data group, are to be performed or not.

According to this aspect, the reproduction control information comprisesthe highlight identical information which indicates whether thehighlight display and the operation control which are the same as thoseindicated by the previous reproduction control information are to beperformed or not. Thus, at the time of reproduction, by continuing thehighlight display and the operation control as they are if it is enoughto continue the immediately previous highlight display and operationcontrol according to the pertinent highlight identical information, itis possible to perform the highlight display and the operation controlof the sub picture precisely as for the time without performing thesuperfluous data process with respect to the newly reproducedreproduction control information.

In another aspect of the information record medium of the presentinvention, respective one reproduction control information belonging toone data group comprises highlight partially identical informationindicating whether the highlight display and the operation control,which specific portion is same as that indicated by another reproductioncontrol information belonging to another data group located at aposition on the record track to be logically reproduced in previous tothe one data group by one unit of the data group, are to be performed ornot.

According to this aspect, the reproduction control information comprisesthe highlight partially identical information which indicates whetherthe highlight display and the operation control which specific portionis the same as that indicated by the previous reproduction controlinformation are to be performed or not. Thus, at the time ofreproduction, by performing the data process only with respect to theportion other than the identical specific portion of the reproducedinformation so as to continue the immediately previous highlight displayand operation control or add some modification to the immediatelyprevious highlight display and operation control according to thepertinent highlight partially identical information, it is possible toperform the highlight display and the operation control of the subpicture precisely as for the time without performing the superfluousdata process or updating process with respect to the partially identicalportion of the newly reproduced reproduction control information.

Accordingly, the highlight display and the operation control of the subpicture can be performed precisely as for the time by use of the rathersimple hardware construction and algorithm.

As another aspect of the information record medium of-the presentinvention, the information reproducing apparatus reproduces at least oneof main picture information and audio information together with the subpicture information while relatively moving the read device along therecord track on which the at least one of main picture information andaudio information is further recorded. The at least one of main pictureinformation and audio information is recorded such that the at least oneof main picture information and audio information is divided into theplurality of data groups, each of which comprises (i) at least one of amain picture pack in which the main picture information is contained, anaudio pack in which the audio information is contained and the subpicture pack and (ii) the control pack. And that, the main picture pack,sub picture pack and audio pack are time-axis-multiplexed and arrangedalong the record track within the data group or over the plurality ofdata groups.

According to this aspect, a plurality of data groups has the mainpicture pack and/or the audio pack in addition to the sub picture packand the control pack. Here, these main picture pack, sub picture packand audio pack are time-axis-multiplexed and arranged along the recordtrack within one group or over a plurality of groups. Thus, at the timeof reproduction, the main picture information, the sub pictureinformation and the audio information can be reproduced together incorrespondence to each other as for the time.

Accordingly, it is possible to perform the reproduction outputs of themain picture information and the audio information and to perform thehighlight display and the operation control of the sub picture,precisely as for the time, by use of a rather simple hardwareconstruction and algorithm.

An information record medium according to claim 4, wherein the subpicture information is to be superimposed on the main pictureinformation, to thereby be reproduced.

According to this aspect, at the time of reproduction, the highlightdisplay and the operation control of the sub picture, which issuperimposed on the main picture, can be performed precisely as for thetime, by use of a rather simple hardware construction and algorithm.

The above object of the present invention can be also achieved by aninformation recording apparatus for recording information onto aninformation record medium having a record track to be reproduced by aninformation reproducing apparatus. The information reproducing apparatushas a read device, is capable of reproducing sub picture informationwhile relatively moving the read device along the record track recordedwith at least the sub picture information and is also capable ofperforming a highlight display of the sub picture information. Theinformation recording apparatus is provided with: a record device forrecording onto the record track at least the sub picture information andreproduction control information to control a reproduction of the subpicture information by the information reproducing apparatus such thatthe sub picture information and the reproduction control information aredivided into a plurality of groups, each of which is a predeterminedunit able to be accessed by the information reproducing apparatus andeach of which comprises a sub picture pack in which the sub pictureinformation is contained and a control pack in which the reproductioncontrol information is contained, the reproduction control informationcomprising (i) highlight display control information prescribing atleast one of the highlight display of the sub picture information and anoperation control corresponding to the sub picture information and (ii)time management information indicating times to manage a start time andan end time respectively of at least one of an effective time periodduring which the highlight display is effective and an effective timeperiod during which the operation control is effective by apredetermined unit finer than the predetermined unit of the data group;and an input device for inputting at least the highlight display controlinformation and the time management information among the reproductioncontrol information.

According to the information recording apparatus of the presentinvention, at first, by the record device, the sub picture informationis recorded into each of the sub picture packs included in each of thegroups on the record track. Further, when at least the aforementionedhighlight display control information and the time managementinformation among the reproduction control information are inputted bythe input device, this reproduction control information is recorded bythe record device into each of the control packs. Thus, the abovedescribed information record medium of the present invention can berecorded and obtained.

In one aspect of the information recording apparatus of the presentinvention, the information reproducing apparatus reproduces at least oneof main picture information and audio information together with the subpicture information while relatively moving the read device along therecord track on which the at least one of main picture information andaudio information is further recorded. The record device records ontothe record track the at least one of main picture information and audioinformation such that the at least one of main picture information andaudio information is divided into the plurality of data groups, each ofwhich comprises (i) at least one of a main picture pack in which themain picture information is contained, an audio pack in which the audioinformation is contained and the sub picture pack and (ii) the controlpack. And that, the record device comprises a multiplex device fortime-axis-multiplexing and arranging the main picture pack, sub picturepack and audio pack along the record track within the data group or overthe plurality of data groups.

According to this aspect, since the main picture pack, the sub picturepack, the audio pack etc. are time-axis-multiplexed along the recordtrack within one data group or over a plurality of data groups, theaforementioned aspect of the information record medium of the presentinvention an be recorded and obtained.

The above object of the present invention can be also achieved by aninformation reproducing apparatus for reproducing the above describedinformation record medium of the present invention. The informationreproducing apparatus is provided with: a read device for readinginformation recorded at a predetermined reading position on the recordtrack; an extract device for extracting the sub picture pack and thecontrol pack independently from the information read by the read device;a control information decode device for decoding the reproductioncontrol information included in the extracted control pack; a subpicture decode device for decoding the sub picture information includedin the extracted sub picture pack; and a control device for controllingthe sub picture decode device to perform the highlight display and theoperation control of the sub picture information in accordance with thehighlight display control information and the time managementinformation included in the decoded reproduction control information.

According to the information reproducing apparatus of the presentinvention, the information recorded at the predetermined readingposition on the record track is read by the read device. Then, the subpicture pack and the control pack are extracted by the extract deviceindependently from this read information. Then, the reproduction controlinformation included in the extracted control pack is decoded by thecontrol information decode device while the sub picture informationincluded in the extracted sub picture pack is decoded by the sub picturedecode device. At this time, under the control of the control device,the highlight display and the operation control of the sub pictureinformation is performed by the sub picture decode device, in accordancewith the highlight display control information and the time managementinformation included in the decoded reproduction control information.Thus, the highlight display and the operation control of the sub picturecan be performed precisely as for the time, by use of a rather simplehardware construction and algorithm. As a result, an informationreproducing apparatus for the DVD, which is capable of performing theinteractive reproduction while performing the highlight display and thebutton operations or the like at precise timings, can be realized.

In one aspect of the information reproducing apparatus of the presentinvention, in the information record medium, at least one of mainpicture information and audio information is recorded on the recordtrack such that the at least one of main picture information and audioinformation is divided into the plurality of data groups, each of whichcomprises (i) at least one of a main picture pack in which the mainpicture information is contained, an audio pack in which the audioinformation is contained and the sub picture pack and (ii) the controlpack; and the main picture pack, sub picture pack and audio pack aretime-axis-multiplexed and arranged along the record track within thedata group or over the plurality of data groups. The extract deviceextracts the at least one of main picture pack and audio packindependently from the information read by the read device. And that,the information reproducing apparatus further comprises at least one ofa main picture decode device for decoding the main picture informationincluded in the extracted main picture pack and an audio decode devicefor decoding the audio information included in the extracted audio pack.

According to this aspect, the main picture pack and/or the audio packare extracted by the extract device from the information read by theread device. Then, the main picture information, and/or the audioinformation included in the extracted main picture pack and/or the audiopack are decoded by the main picture decode device and/or the audiodecode device, respectively. Thus, the main picture information, the subpicture information and the audio information can be reproduced togetherin correspondence with each other as for the time, and the highlightdisplay and the operation display of the sub picture as well as thereproduction outputs of the main picture information and/or the audioinformation can be performed precisely as for the time. As a result, aninformation reproducing apparatus for the DVD, which is capable ofperforming the interactive reproduction while performing the highlightdisplay and the button operations or the like together with the mainpicture and/or the audio sound at precise timings, can be realized.

In another aspect of the information reproducing apparatus of thepresent invention, the control device controls the sub picture decodedevice to superimpose the decoded sub picture information on the decodedmain picture information, in accordance with to the decoded reproductioncontrol information.

According to this aspect, the highlight display and the operationcontrol of the sub picture, which is superimposed on the main picture,can be performed precisely as for the time, by use of a rather simplehardware construction and algorithm.

The nature, utility, and further features of this invention will be moreclearly apparent from the following detailed description with respect topreferred embodiments of the invention when read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings briefly described below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a physical structure of record informationof a DVD as one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the DVD in FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a logical structure of the recordinformation of the DVD in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a structure of an interleaved unit of theDVD in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a data structure of highlight informationdescribed in a PCI packet of each navi-pack of the DVD of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a table showing a data structure of highlight generalinformation included in the highlight information of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a data structure of information indicating ahighlight status included in the highlight general information of FIG.5;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a data structure of information indicatinghighlight start point in the highlight general information of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a data structure of information indicating ahighlight end point in the highlight general information of FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of an information recording apparatus forrecording the DVD in FIG. 1, as another embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of an information reproducing apparatus forreproducing the DVD in FIG. 1, as another embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 11 is a timing chart indicating a highlight displaying operation ofthe information reproducing apparatus of FIG. 10 and a displayingoperation of a comparison example as comparing these operation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the accompanying drawings, embodiments of the presentinvention will be now explained. The following explanations will be donefor the embodiments, in which the present invention is applied to theaforementioned DVD.

In the following embodiments, constitutional elements listed on a righthand side in a following list respectively construct examples ofconstitutional elements of the present invention listed on a left handside in the following list.

data group VOBU ((Video OBject) Unit) reproduction control PCI(Presentation information Control Information) control pack navi-packmain picture pack video pack

(I) Embodiment of Information Record Medium

First of all, a physical structure and a logical structure as well as anoperation of a DVD, as one embodiment of the information record mediumto which the present invention is applied, will be explained withreference to FIGS. 1 to 8.

At first, a record format of video information and audio information ona record track of the DVD (i.e. a physical record format) is explainedby use of FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, a DVD 1 as the present embodiment is provided with alead in area LI at its most inner circumferential portion and a lead outarea LO at its most outer circumferential portion, between which videoinformation and audio information are recorded along the record tracksuch that they are divided into a plurality of VTSs 3, each of which hasa unique ID (Identification) number (i.e. VTS#1 to VTS#n). Here, the VTS(Video Title Set) 3 is a set (bundle) of titles (each of which is oneproduction or one work which an author or producer intends to offer tothe audience), which are related to each other (e.g., which attribute,such as the number, the specification, the corresponding languages etc.of audio and video streams is the same to each other). More concretely,a plurality of movies which are related to the same movie to each otherbut which languages of serifs (lines) are different from each other maybe recorded as different titles respectively, or even in case of thesame movies, the theater version and the special version may be recordedas different titles respectively. Ahead of the area where the VTSs 3 arerecorded, a video manager 2 is recorded as shown in FIG. 1. As theinformation recorded in the video manager 2, for example, informationrelated to the whole video and audio information recorded on the DVD 1,such as a menu for showing a name of each title, information forpreventing an illegal copy, an access table for directly accessing eachtitle and so on, is recorded.

These video, audio and control informations are recorded on a spiral orcoaxial record track 1 a of the DVD 1 as shown in FIG. 1A.

One VTS 3 is recorded such that it is divided into a plurality of VOBs10, each of which has an ID number (VOB ID#1, VOB ID#2, . . . ), andcontrol data 11 disposed ahead of the VOBs 10. Here, a data portionconstructed by a plurality of VOBs 10 is defined as a VOB set (VOBS) asshown in FIG. 1. This VOB set is defined to distinguish the VOB 10,which constructs one portion of the VTS 3 as the substantial portion ofthe video and audio information, from the control data 11, whichconstructs another portion of the VTS 3.

In the control data 11 recorded at the head of the VTS 3, informationsuch as PGCI (ProGram Chain Information), which is various informationrelated to a program chain as a logical division obtained by combining aplurality of cells (the “cell” will be described later in detail), isrecorded. In each VOB 10, the substantial portion of the video and audioinformation (i.e. the video and audio information itself other thancontrol information) besides the control information are recorded.

Further, one VOB 10 is constructed of a plurality of cells 20, each ofwhich has an-ID number (cell ID#1, cell ID#2, . . . ). Here, one VOB 10is constructed such that it is completed by the plurality of cells 20and that one cell 20 does not strides over two VOBs 10.

Nextly, one cell 20 is constructed of a plurality of VOB units (VOBUs)30, each of which has an ID number (VOBU#1, VOBU#2, . . . ). Here, theVOB unit 30 is an information unit, each of which includes the videoinformation, the audio information and sub picture information (which isdefined as information of a sub picture such as a subtitle of a movieetc.).

One VOB unit 30 is provided with: a navi-pack (a navigation pack) 41 forstoring various control data; a video pack 42 for storing video data; anaudio pack 43 for storing audio data; and a sub picture pack 44 for subpicture data. Here, in the video pack 42, a packet including the videodata together with additional information such as header thereof isrecorded. In the audio pack 43, a packet including the audio datatogether with additional information such as header thereof is recorded.Further, in the sub picture pack 44, a packet including graphics such asa character and a diagram as the sub picture, together with additionalinformation such as header thereof, is recorded. In the video packs 42,which data amount is relatively large as shown in FIG. 1, one or aplurality of GOPs are recorded within one VOB unit 30. The audio pack 43and the sub picture pack 44 are disposed intermittently between thevideo packs 42.

It is prescribed by a standard specification of the DVD that there are 8kinds of audio recordable on the DVD 1 while 32 kinds of sub picturerecordable on the DVD 1. Further, there always exists the navi-pack 41in one VOBU 30. On the other hand, there may not exist each of the videopack 42, the audio pack 43 and the sub picture pack 44 in one VOBU 30,or, even in case that these packs exist in one VOBU 30, the number ofthe packs and the order of the packs are freely determined.

Finally, the navi-pack 41 is provided with: a DSI (Data SearchInformation) packet 51 including search information to search a videoimage or an audio sound desired to be displayed or sound-outputted(concretely, search information such as an address, where the video oraudio to be displayed or sound-outputted is recorded, on the DVD 1); anda PCI (Presentation Control Information) packet 50 including informationrelated to a display control at a time of displaying the video image oroutputting the audio sound, which is searched on the basis of theinformation of the DSI packet 51. Further, the video data included inone VOBU 30 consist of at least one GOP (Group Of Pictures). In the PCIpacket 50, high light information, which defines a display or operationat a time when one selection item is selected out of selection items bythe audience, is included. By the high light information, for example,the change of the picture plane display as well as the display positionto be changed with respect to the selection item selected on a specialpicture plane of selection items (i.e. a so-called menu picture plane)for the audience to select, and the command corresponding to theselected item (i.e. a command to be performed in correspondence with theselected item) are set.

The video information to construct and display a frame, a selectionbutton and the like, which is required to construct and display the menupicture plane, is recorded in the sub picture pack 44 as the sub pictureinformation.

Further, the above described GOP is a minimum picture unit, which can beindependently reproduced and which is determined by a standard based onthe MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) 2 method. The MPEG 2 method is apicture compression method adopted at a time of recording the videoinformation onto the DVD 1 in the present embodiment.

Here, the outline of the MPEG 2 method is explained. Namely, in general,frame pictures forward and backward of one frame picture in continuousframe pictures are often resembled to each other and have mutualrelationships. The MPEG 2 method is a method, which is proposed bypaying an attention to this fact, and which generates one frame pictureexisting between a plurality of frame pictures on the basis of theplurality of frame pictures transferred while they are timely separatedby a few or several frames from each other, by means of an interpolatingcalculation based on moving vectors etc. of the original picture. Inthis case, if this one frame picture is to be recorded, it is enough tojust record the information as for a differential vector and a movingvector thereof with respect to the plurality of frame pictures, so as toreproduce this one frame picture by estimating it from the plurality offrame pictures with referring to these vectors, at a time ofreproduction. By this, the compression recording is enabled with respectto the picture.

The MPEG 2 method used in the present embodiment employs a variable ratemethod, in which the data amount included in each GOP is not constant.

In the above explained record format having a hierarchical structure asshown in FIG. 1, each division can be freely set according to theauthor's intention, so as to perform recording on the basis of these setdivisions. By performing the reproduction on the basis of a laterdescribed logical structure for each of these divisions, the variegatedreproduction can be performed.

Nextly, a logical format (logical structure) constructed by combiningthe information recorded by the physical divisions shown in FIG. 1 isexplained with reference to FIG. 2. The information is not actuallyrecorded on the DVD 1 in the logical structure of FIG. 2. Instead,information (e.g. access information or time information) to reproduceeach data shown in FIG. 1 by combining them (especially combining thecells 20) in the logical structure shown in FIG. 2, is recorded on theDVD 1, especially in the control data 11.

To make the explanation clear, the following explanation is made fromthe lower hierarchical layer in FIG. 2. One program 60 is logicallyconstructed on the basis of the author's intention by selecting andcombining a plurality of cells 20 among the physical structuresexplained by use of FIG. 1. The program 60 is also a minimum logicalunit, which division can be identified by a system controller of areproducing apparatus described later and which can be accessed by useof a command by the system controller. It is also possible for theauthor to define a gathering of one or more programs 60 as a minimumunit, which can be freely selected to be watched or listened to by theaudience and which is referred to as a PTT (ParT of Title).

Since one program 60 is logically constructed by selecting a pluralityof cells 20, it is possible to use one cell commonly for a plurality ofprograms 60, namely to perform a so-called “alternative usage” of thecell 20 in which one cell 20 is reproduced in a plurality of differentprograms 60.

Here, as for the number of each cell 20, at a time of treating the cell20 on the physical format shown in FIG. 1, the number is treated as thecell ID number (which is indicated by cell ID # in FIG. 1). On the otherhand, at a time of treating the cell 20 on the logical format shown inFIG. 2, the number is treated as the cell number in the order ofdescription in the PGCI described later.

Next, by combining a plurality of programs 60, one PGC (Program Chain)61 is logically constructed on the basis of the author's intention. Theaforementioned PGCI (ProGram Chain Information) is defined by a unit ofthe PGC 61. The PGCI includes information indicating: the reproductionorder of the cells 20 for each program 60 at a time of reproducing eachprogram 60 (by this reproduction order, a unique program number (#1, #2,. . . ) is assigned to each program 60); the reproduction order for eachcell 20 (by this reproduction order, a unique cell number is assigned toeach cell 20); an address which is a record position of each cell 20 onthe DVD 1; the number of the cell 20 positioned at the head of oneprogram 60 to be firstly reproduced; a reproduction method for eachprogram 60 [it is possible for the author to select one reproductionmethod for each PGC 61 out of (i) a random reproduction (which is arandom reproduction by use of random numbers, and the same program 60may be reproduced by a plurality of times), (ii) a shuffle reproduction(which is a random reproduction by use of random numbers in the samemanner as the random reproduction, but one program 60 is reproduced justonce but not reproduced by a plurality of times), (iii) a loopreproduction (which is a reproduction to reproduce one PGC 61repeatedly), and (iv) a combination of the loop reproduction with therandom reproduction or the shuffle reproduction, as a reproductionmethod to be employed at a time of reproduction]; and various commands(e.g. commands able to be specified by the author for each PGC 61 oreach cell 20). The recording position of the PGCI on the DVD 1 may be inthe control data 11 as aforementioned, or in a control data (notillustrated) in the video manager 2 if the pertinent PGCI is related tothe menu in the video manager 2 (refer to FIG. 1).

In one PGC 61, the substantial video and audio data etc. are included asa combination of the programs 60 (in other words, the combination of thecells 20) other than the above mentioned PGCI.

Further, in one PGC 61, it is possible to perform the alternative usageof the cell 20 as explained before in the explanation for the program 60(i.e. such a usage that the same cell 20 is commonly used by a pluralityof different PGC 61). As the method of reproducing the cell 20 to beused, the author can select a method of reproducing the cells 20 in anorder regardless of the recording order on the DVD 1 (i.e. the method ofreproducing the cells discontinuously arranged, for example, the methodof reproducing the cell 20 prior which is recorded posterior on therecord track) other than a method of reproducing the cell 20 in therecording order on the record track on the DVD 1 as it is (i.e. themethod of reproducing the cells continuously arranged).

Then, one title 62 is logically constructed of one or a plurality ofPGCs 61 (PGC #1, PGC#2, . . . ) as shown in FIG. 2. The title 62 is, forexample, a unit corresponding to one movie, and is completed informationwhich the author would like to offer to the audience of the DVD 1.

Finally, one VTS 63 is logically constructed of one or a plurality oftitles 62 (title #1, title #2, . . . ) as shown in FIG. 2. The title 62included in the VTS 63 has the attributes common to each other. Forexample, the movies based on one movie but in different languagescorrespond to the respective titles 62. The information included in oneVTS 63 shown in FIG. 2 corresponds to information included in one VTS 3shown in FIG. 1. Namely, all information included in the logical VTS 63shown in FIG. 2 is recorded as one VTS 3 in the DVD 1 shown in FIG. 1.

As the author specifies the information divided in the physicalstructure on the DVD 1 on the basis of the above described logicalformat, the video image (e.g. the movie image) for the audience to watchis to be formed.

In the explanations for the physical structure shown in FIG. 1, for theeasy understanding of the content, it has been explained such that aplurality of cells 20 are recorded in the order of the ID numbers.However, in the DVD 1 of the present embodiment, one cell 20 may bedivided into a plurality of interleaved units IU to be actually recordedon the DVD 1, as shown in FIG. 3.

Namely, as shown in FIG. 3, it is assumed that the author constructs onePGC 61A of the cells 20 having the ID numbers 1, 2 and 4, and constructsanother PGC 61B of the cells 20 having the ID numbers 1, 3 and 4. Inthis case, at a time of reproducing the information from the DVD 1 onthe basis of the PGC 61A, only the cells having the ID numbers 1, 2 and4 are reproduced, while, at a time of reproducing the information fromthe DVD 1 on the basis of the PGC 61B, only the cells 20 having the IDnumbers 1, 3 and 4 are reproduced. In the case of the PGC 61A forexample, if the cells 20 are recorded spaced from each other for each IDnumber, a certain time period to jump the optical pickup from the recordposition of the cell 20 having the ID number 2 on the DVD 1 to therecord position of the cell 20 having the ID number 4 on the DVD 1 isrequired in the reproduction. This results in that the continuousreproduction (hereinafter, it is referred to as a “seamlessreproduction”) of the cell 20 having the ID number 2 and the cell 20having the ID number 4 may not be possible depending on a capacity of atrack buffer of the reproducing apparatus described later.

Therefore, in the case shown in FIG. 3, the cell 20 having the ID number2 and the cell having the ID number 3 are divided into interleaved unitsIU and are recorded by the interleaved units IU, each having a length,which does not destroy the continuity of an output signal of the trackbuffer even if an input signal to the track buffer is temporarilystopped, in correspondence with an input and output processing speeds atthe track buffer (i.e. the interleaved units IU, each having a lengthwhich allows the track buffer to continuously output the output signaleven if the input signal to the track buffer is ceased while the opticalpickup jumps for the interval of one interleaved unit IU). For example,in case of reproduction based on the PGC 61A, only the interleaved unitsIU constructing the cell 20 corresponding to the ID number 2 arecontinuously detected to be reproduced. In the same manner, in case ofreproduction based on the PGC 61B, only the interleaved units IUconstructing the cell 20 corresponding to the ID number 3 arecontinuously detected to be reproduced. The length of the interleavedunit IU may be determined with considering the capability of a drivingmechanism such as a slider motor to perform the track jump, in additionto the memory capacity of the track buffer.

In this manner, by dividing one cell 20 into a plurality of interleavedunits IU and recording them according to the author's intention, thesignal outputted from the track buffer can be continuous even at a timeof reproducing the PGC 61 including the cells 20 having thediscontinuous ID numbers, so that it is possible for the audience towatch continuous reproduction video image.

Each interleaved unit IU is completed in one VOB 10, and does not strideover two adjacent VOBs 10. As for the relationship between theinterleaved unit IU and the VOB unit 30, one or a plurality of VOB units30 are included in one interleaved unit IU. One VOB unit 30 is completedin one interleaved unit IU, and is not divided into a plurality ofinterleaved units IU or does not strides over a plurality of interleavedunits IU.

Nextly, the highlight information of the DVD 1 having the abovedescribed physical and logical structures as a feature of the presentinvention is explained in more detail with reference to FIGS. 4 to 8.

As shown in FIG. 4, the highlight information is provided with highlightgeneral information 200, button color information table 300 and buttoninformation table 400. Here, the “button” is defined as a selectionbranch or option displayed by the sub picture, and also as an objecthighlighted by the highlight information. As this button, there is aselection button in the menu formed by the sub picture on the backgroundof the main picture, by the information reproducing apparatus, forexample. In this case, when the audience moves the cursor to a certainselection button to select it and presses a confirmation button so as toreproduce the selected title, the highlight display is performed independence upon the condition at that time with respect to the button,so that the button command is executed at the time of confirming and thesearch or the like is performed. In order to realize this kind ofoperation, the button color information table 300 is a table to definethe highlight accompanying the selection or confirmation operation bythe audience (e.g. the change of the color of the button) for each ofthe buttons. The button information table 400 is a table to describe:the position of each button on the picture plane; the button at amovement destination when the highlight moving operation by use of thecursor is performed; and the button command to be executed whenconfirming the button, as for each of the buttons (i.e. the buttoninformation #1 to #n in FIG. 4). Namely, as shown in FIG. 4, each buttoninformation is constituted by button position information 401, adjacentbutton position information 402 and a button command 403. It is possibleto define a group as for a plurality of buttons. In that case, thecontents in the button color information table and the buttoninformation table are described as for each of the groups.

The highlight general information shown in the table of FIG. 5 iswritten as one portion or whole of the highlight information in the PCIpacket 50 within the navi-pack 41 in FIG. 1.

In FIG. 5, the highlight general information HL-GI has: 2 bytesinformation 201 including HLI-SS data indicative of a “highlightstatus”; 4 bytes information 202 including HLI-SPTS data indicative of a“highlight start point (presentation time stamp)”; and 4 bytesinformation 203 including HLI-EPTS data indicative of a “highlight endpoint (presentation time stamp)”, each of which has a data structuredescribed later in detail. The highlight general information also has: 1byte information including BTN-MD data indicative of a “button mode” tobe displayed by the button information; 1 byte information includingBTN-SN data indicative of a “button start number” i.e., from whichbutton number the button to be displayed is started; 1 byte informationincluding BTN-NS data indicative of a “number of buttons” which is thetotal number of the buttons to be displayed; 1 byte informationincluding NSBTN-NS indicative of a “number of numerical selectionbuttons” which is the total number of the numerical buttons to bedisplayed; 1 byte information including FSLBTN-N data indicative of a“forcedly selected button number” which is the button number forcedlyselected by the information reproducing apparatus; and 1 byteinformation including FACBTN-N data indicative of a “forcedly actuatedbutton number” which is the button number to be forcedly actuated by theinformation reproducing apparatus. In this manner, the highlight generalinformation HL-GI is information related to the whole of the highlightinformation and having the total size of 16 bytes.

Nextly, the 2 bytes information 201 indicative of the “highlight status”is explained with reference to FIG. 6.

In FIG. 6, the HLI-SS data of 2 bytes is written in the bits b0 and b1in the information 201 indicative of the “highlight status”. The HLI-SSdata indicates, by the data value “00” thereof, the fact that noeffective highlight information exists. The HLI-SS data indicates, bythe data value “01” thereof, the fact that the highlight informationexists in the pertinent PCI packet within the pertinent navi-pack of thepertinent VOBU, which is different from that of a previous VOBU.Further, the HLI-SS data indicates, by the data value “10” thereof, thefact that the highlight information exists in the pertinent PCI packetwithin the pertinent navi-pack of the pertinent VOBU, which is the sameas that of the previous VOBU. Furthermore, the HLI-SS data indicates, bythe data value “11” thereof as one example of the highlight partiallyidentical information, the fact that the highlight information exists inthe pertinent PCI packet within the pertinent navi-pack of the pertinentVOBU, which is different only in the button command BTN-CMD from that ofthe previous VOBU, and the remaining portion is the same as that of theprevious VOBU.

The bits b2 to b15 in this information 201 indicative of the “highlightstatus” are formed as an empty area for the future use, and all of thesebits are set to “0”. Incidentally, if the value of the HLI-SS data is“00”, the content of the pertinent highlight general information HL-GIis made ineffective except for this HLI-SS. Thus, the descriptioncontents are not specified as for each information in this case.

Nextly, the 4 bytes information 202 indicative of the “highlight startpoint” as one example of the time management information is explainedwith reference to FIG. 7. To the information 202 indicative of the“highlight start point”, the highlight start time is described asfollowing, at which the highlight information is made effective in casethat the highlight information is indicated to be effective by the abovedescribed information 201 indicative of the “highlight status”. Namely,the information 202 indicates the highlight start time as for newhighlight information in case that the HLI-SS data has the data value“01”, and indicates the highlight start time as for the previoushighlight information, which is previous to the present and is continuedto the present VOBU, in case that the HLI-SS data has the data value“10” or “11”. Incidentally, the highlight start time must be not shorter(i.e. not earlier) than the display start time of the sub picture as anobject of the pertinent highlight information.

In FIG. 7, the HLI-SPTS data is written in all of the bits b0 to b31(total 32 bits) in this information 202 indicative of the “highlightstart point”. Here, as the highlight start time, the value, which iscalculated by use of a predetermined calculation formula (HLI-SPTSvalue=highlight start time (sec)×90000 (Hz)), is described as binarydata to the bits b0 to b31. The HLI-SPTS data expresses the time, atwhich the top byte of the video frame of the sub picture datacorresponding to the pertinent highlight start is to be outputted fromthe decoder of the reproducing apparatus, and specifies it by the unitof 90 kHz. Here, the reason for employing here the frequency value of 90kHz is that it is the common multiple of the frequencies of the videoframes such as the NTSC method, the PAL method etc., so that itscongeniality in frequency with the video data is good.

Nextly, the 4 bytes information 203 including the HLI-EPTS dataindicative of the “highlight end point” as one example of the timemanagement information is explained with reference to FIG. 8. To thisinformation 203 indicative of the “highlight end point”, in case thatthe highlight information is indicated to be effective by theaforementioned information 201 indicative of the “highlight status”, thehighlight start time, at which the highlight information is madeeffective, is described as following. Namely, the information 203indicates the highlight end time as for new highlight information incase that the HLI-SS data has the data value “01”, and indicates thehighlight end time as for the previous highlight information which isprevious to the present and is continued to the present VOBU in casethat the HLI-SS data has the data value “10” or “11”. Incidentally, thehighlight end time must be not longer (i.e. not later) than the displayend time of the sub picture as an object of the pertinent highlightinformation.

In FIG. 8, the HLI-EPTS data is written in all of the bits b0 to b31(total 32 bits) in this information 203 indicative of the “highlight endpoint”. Here, as the highlight end time, the value calculated by use ofa predetermined calculation formula (HLI-EPTS value=highlight end time(sec)×90000 (Hz)) is described as binary data to the bits b0 to b31. TheHLI-EPTS data expresses the time, at which the top byte of the videoframe of the sub picture data corresponding to the pertinent highlightend is to be outputted from the decoder of the reproducing apparatus,and specified it by the unit of 90 kHz in the same manner as theHLI-SPTS data.

As described above in detail, the information indicative of the startpoint and the end point of the highlight display is written in thehighlight general information HL-GI included in the PCI packet in eachnavi-pack, in the DVD of the present embodiment. Thus, it is possible tospecify the start of the highlight display from a desired point of time,and it is further possible to specify the end of the highlight displayat a desired point of time. As a result, in the information reproducingapparatus described later, on the basis of the information indicative ofthe start point and the end point, for example, it is possible toperform the highlight display of the sub picture precisely as for thetime, on the GUI picture plane constituted by superimposing the subpicture on the main picture.

Incidentally, such a button command may be included in the highlightinformation, as is to set a value of a specific register in a controllerof the information reproducing apparatus described later or is to jumpthe reading position to a certain portion on the DVD, in addition to theabove explained highlight general information HL-GI. For example, it isassumed here such a case that the record information recorded on the DVD1 is the educational software, and that the selection items composed ofa plurality of answer candidates or options to be selected by theaudience after displaying a question is displayed as the sub picture. Inthis case, the button command corresponding to the selection item isincluded in the highlight information, and, if the correct answer itemis selected by the highlight display, some point is added to thespecific register, while, if the incorrect answer item is selected bythe highlight display, this point addition is not executed. Then, thesequences of displaying the question and answering the question arerepeated in the same manner, and, at the end of answering all thequestion, the total score (points) accumulated in the specific registeris referred to. Then, if this total score is equal to or higher than apredetermined satisfactory score value, the reading position is moved toanother track where the questions on the next study stage are recordedon the DVD 1. On the other hand, if this total score is lower than thepredetermined satisfactory score value, the reading position is moved toanother track where the questions for reviewing are recorded on the DVD1. As explained above, the button command to set the specific registerof the controller of the reproducing apparatus and/or to jump thereading position to a specific position may be included in the highlightinformation. Further, if such a button command exists, the start pointand the end point of the effective time period or duration as for theexecution of the button command may be defined by the highlight startand end times. Namely, only during the time period or duration betweenthe highlight start and end times, the button command is executed incorrespondence with a selected button when a certain selection item(button) is selected. Other than that time period or duration, even ifthe selection item is selected, the corresponding button command is notexecuted. Incidentally, if the information 201 has the value “11” and ifthe highlight information is different only in the button command fromthe previous highlight information, the new button command is madeeffective from the reproduction start time (i.e. the start PTS(Presentation Time Stamp)) of the VOBU including the PCI packetincluding the pertinent information 201.

Since the DVD has such a large memory capacity that, in addition to onemovie, the audio voices and captions (titles) in a plurality of kinds oflanguages corresponding to this one movie can be recorded on a singleoptical disk, it is effective to apply the above described record formatespecially to the DVD 1.

(II) Embodiment of Recording Apparatus

Next, an embodiment of recording apparatus for recording the abovementioned control information, video information and audio informationonto the DVD 1 will be explained with reference to FIG. 9.

At first, a construction and an operation of the recording apparatus asthe embodiment is explained with reference to FIG. 9.

As shown in FIG. 9, a recording apparatus S1 as the present embodimentis provided with: a VTR (Video Tape Recorder) 70; a memory 71; a signalprocess unit 71; a hard disk (HD) device 73; a hard disk (HD) device 74;a controller 75; a multiplexer 76; a modulator 77; and a masteringdevice 78.

Nextly, an operation of the present embodiment is explained.

Record information R, which is a raw material such as audio information,video information etc. to be recorded on the DVD 1, is temporarilyrecorded in the VTR 70. Then, the record information R temporarilyrecord in the VTR 70 is outputted to the signal process unit 72 by arequest from the signal process unit 72.

The signal process unit 72 applies an A/D (Analog to Digital) convertingprocess and a signal compressing process to the record information Routputted from the VTR 70, and time-axis-multiplexes the audioinformation and the video information to output it as a compressedmultiplexed signal Sr. After that, the compressed multiplexed signal Sroutputted therefrom is temporarily stored into the hard disk device 73.

Along with this, the memory 71 classifies the record information R intoa plurality of partial record information Pr in advance, and temporarilystores content information related to the partial record information Prwhich is inputted beforehand on the basis of a cue sheet ST, on whichthe user defined information such as the HLI-SS data indicating thehighlight status shown in FIG. 6, the HLI-SPTS data indicating thehighlight start point shown in FIG. 7, the HLI-EPTS data indicating thehighlight end point shown in FIG. 8 and so on are written. Then, thememory 71 outputs it as a content information signal Si on the basis ofa request from the signal process unit 72.

Then, the signal process unit 72 generates and outputs an accessinformation signal Sac corresponding to the partial record informationPr with referring to a time code Tt, on the basis of the time code Ttcorresponding to the record information R outputted from the VTR 70 andthe content information signal Si outputted from the memory 71. Then,the access information signal Sac is temporarily stored in the hard diskdevice 74.

The above described processes are performed with respect to the wholerecord information R.

When the above described processes are finished as for the whole recordinformation R, the controller 75 reads out the compressed multiplexedsignal Sr from the hard disk device 73, reads out the access informationsignal Sac from the hard disk device 74, generates additionalinformation DA on the basis of these read out signals, and stores theadditional information DA into the hard disk device 74. This is becausethere may be a control signal, which content is determined in dependenceupon a generation result of the compressed multiplexed signal Sr amongvarious control signals. On the other hand, the controller 75 performs atime management for each of the operations of the signal process unit72, the hard disk device 73 and the hard disk device 74, and reads outthe additional information DA from the hard disk device 74, so that thecontroller 75 generates and outputs an additional information signal Sacorresponding to the read out additional information DA, and generatesand outputs an information selection signal Scc to time-axis-multiplexthe compressed multiplexed signal Sr and the additional informationsignal Sa.

After that, the compressed multiplexed signal Sr and the additionalinformation signal Sa are time-axis-multiplexed by the multiplexer 76 tobe outputted as an information added compressed multiplexed Sap. Ifthere exists the sub picture information to be recorded, it is inputted,by other means such as a hard disk device not illustrated, to the signalprocess unit 72, so that it is processed in the same manner as the videoand audio information thereat.

Then, the modulator 77 adds an error correction code (ECC), such as aReed Solomon code, and applies a modulation such as an eight to sixteen(8-16) modulation with respect to the information added compressedmultiplexed signal Sap outputted from the multiplexer 76, and generatesand outputs a disk record signal Sm to the mastering device 78.

Finally, the mastering device 78 records the disk record signal Sm to astamper disk, which becomes a master (i.e. a cutting dye) for theproduction of an optical disk. Then, by use of this stamper disk, anoptical disk as a replica disk, which can be on sale in the generalmarket, i.e. the DVD 1, can be produced by a replication device notillustrated.

Nextly, the processes of recording the highlight general informationHL-GI of the information recording apparatus S1 are explained in moredetail.

At first, the information selection signal Scc to indicate that theadditional information signal is to be selected is outputted by thecontroller 75, at the timing corresponding to the access informationsignal Sac generated on the basis of the content information SI whichspecifies each item of the highlight general information HL-GI inputtedby the cue sheet ST (e.g., the HLI-SS data indicative of the highlightstatus shown in FIG. 6, the HLI-SPTS data indicative of the highlightstart point shown in FIG. 7, the HLI-EPTS data indicative of thehighlight end point shown in FIG. 8 and so on). Then, the multiplexer 76is switched to the side of the additional information signal Sa. Then,the highlight general information HL-GI is inputted to the modulator 77as one portion of the additional information signal Sa constituting thePCI packet within each navi-pack, and is further inputted to themastering device 78 as one portion of the disk record signal Sm. Nextly,the information selection signal Scc to indicate that the compressedmultiplexed signal Sr is to be selected is outputted by the controller75. Then, the multiplexer 76 is switched to the side of the compressedmultiplexed signal Sr. Then, the video data, the audio data and the subpicture data of this VOBU are sequentially inputted to the modulator 77as the information added compressed signal Sap. This operation isrepeatedly performed with respect to a plurality of VOBUs, and isfurther repeatedly performed with respect to a plurality of VTSs.

As a result of the above, according to the present embodiment, themaster disk in which the highlight general information HL-GL isconstructed, which specifies the start point (start time) and end point(end time) of the highlight display with respect to the sub picture datain the PCI data within each navi-pack, can be manufactured.

(III) Embodiment of Reproducing Apparatus

Next, an embodiment of reproducing apparatus for reproducing theinformation recorded on the DVD 1 by the above mentioned recordingapparatus S1 will be explained with reference to FIG. 10.

At first, a construction and an operation of the reproducing apparatusas the embodiment is explained with reference to FIG. 10.

As shown in FIG. 10, a reproducing apparatus S2 as the presentembodiment is provided with: an optical pickup 80; a demodulate andcorrect unit 81; stream switches 82 and 84; a track buffer 83; a systembuffer 85; a demultiplexer 86; a VBV (Video Buffer Verifier) buffer 87;a video decoder 88; a sub picture buffer 89; a sub picture decoder 90; amixer 91; an audio buffer 92; an audio decoder 93; a PCI (PresentationControl Information) buffer 94; a PCI decoder 95; a high light buffer96; a high light decoder 97; an input unit 98; a display unit 99; asystem controller 100; a drive controller 101; a spindle motor 102; anda slider motor 103. The construction shown in FIG. 10 only illustratesthe portions related to the video and audio reproduction of thereproducing apparatus S2. The description and the detailed explanationas for servo circuits to servo-control the optical pickup 80, thespindle motor 102, the slider motor 103 and the like are omitted sincethey are constructed in the same manner as the conventional arts.

Nextly, an overall operation of the present embodiment is explained.

The optical pickup 80 includes a laser diode, a polarization beamsplitter, an objective lens, a photo-detector and the like notillustrated, and irradiates a light beam B as a reproduction light withrespect to the DVD 1. The optical pickup 80 receives a reflection lightof the light beam B from the DVD 1, and outputs a detection signal Spcorresponding to information pits formed on the DVD 1. At this time, thetracking servo control and the focus servo control are operated withrespect to the objective lens etc. of the optical pickup 80 in the samemanner as the conventional art so that the light beam B can beirradiated precisely onto the information track of the DVD 1 and thatthe light beam B can be focused on the information record surface of theDVD 1.

The detection signal Sp outputted from the optical pickup 80 is inputtedto the demodulate and correct unit 81, where a signal demodulationprocess and an error correct process are applied to it to generate ademodulation signal Sdm, which is outputted to the stream switch 82 andthe system buffer 85.

The opening and closing operation of the stream switch 82, to which thedemodulation signal Sdm is inputted, is controlled by a switch signalSsw1 from the drive controller 101. When it is closed, the stream switch82 passes therethrough the inputted demodulation signal Sdm as it is tothe track buffer 83. When it is opened, the demodulation signal Sdm isnot outputted therethrough, so that unnecessary or useless information(signal) is not inputted to the track buffer 83.

The track buffer 83, to which the demodulation signal Sdm is inputted,consists of a FIFO (First In First Out) memory, for example. The trackbuffer 83 temporarily stores the inputted demodulation signal Sdm, andcontinuously outputs the stored demodulation signal Sdm when the streamswitch 84 is closed. The track buffer 83 compensates a difference orfluctuation in the data amount between respective GOP under the MPEG 2method, and continuously outputs the demodulation signal Sdm, which isdiscontinuously inputted due to a track jump in the aforementionedseamless reproduction, in case of reading the data divided into theinterleaved units IU, so as to avoid the interruption of thereproduction due to the discontinuity.

The opening and closing operation of the stream switch 84, to which thedemodulation signal Sdm is continuously inputted, is controlled by aswitch signal Ssw2 from the system controller 100 such that the variousbuffers at its posterior stage may not be over-flown or, on thecontrary, may not become empty to stop the decoding process, in theseparating process by the demultiplexer 86.

On the other hand, the system buffer 85, to which the demodulationsignal Sdm is inputted in parallel with the track buffer 83, accumulatesthe management information (e.g. the video manager 2), the control data11 of the VTS 3 and the like (refer to FIG. 1) which are detectedfirstly upon loading the DVD 1 and which are related to the wholeinformation recorded on the DVD 1. Then, the system buffer 85 outputsthe accumulated data as a control information Sc to the systemcontroller 100, and temporarily stores the DSI packet 51 for eachnavi-pack 41 (refer to FIG. 1) as the occasion demands while reproducingthe information, to output it also as the control information Sc.

The demultiplexer 86, to which the demodulation signal Sdm iscontinuously inputted through the stream switch 84, separates the videoinformation, the audio information, the sub picture information and thePCI packet 50 for each navi-pack 41 respectively from the inputteddemodulation signal Sdm, and outputs them as a video signal Sv, a subpicture signal Ssp, an audio signal Sad and a PCI signal Spcrespectively to the VBV buffer 87, the sub picture buffer 89, the audiobuffer 92 and the PCI buffer 94. The demultiplexer 86 sends the packetheader etc. of each packet as the control signal Sdmx to the systemcontroller 100. There may be a case where, in the demodulation signalSdm, different streams of the audio information or the sub pictureinformation in a plurality of different languages are included as theaudio or sub picture information. In that case, a desirable language isselected for the audio or sub picture information by a stream selectionsignal Slc from the system controller 100, so that the audio or subpicture information in the desirable language is outputted to the audiobuffer 92 or the sub picture buffer 89.

The VBV buffer 87, to which the video signal Sv is inputted, consists ofa FIFO memory, for example. The VBV buffer 87 temporarily stores thevideo signal Sv and outputs it to the video decoder 88. The VBV buffer87 compensates the difference or fluctuation in the data amount betweenrespective pictures of the video signal Sv compressed by the MPEG 2method. Then, the video signal Sv in which the differences in the dataamount are compensated, is outputted to the video decoder 88, and isdecoded by the MPEG 2 method to be outputted as a decoded video signalSvd to the mixer 91.

On the other hand, the sub picture buffer 89, to which the sub picturesignal Ssp is inputted, temporarily stores the inputted sub picturesignal Ssp, and outputs it to the sub picture decoder 90. The subpicture buffer 89 is to synchronize the sub picture information includedin the sub picture signal Ssp with the video information correspondingto the sub picture information, and to output it. Then, the sub picturesignal Ssp synchronized with the video information is inputted to thesub picture decoder 90 and is decoded to be outputted as a decoded subpicture signal Sspd to the mixer 91.

In a case where the sub picture signal Ssp includes video information toconstruct a frame, a selection button etc. for displaying the menupicture plane, the sub picture decoder 90 changes a display condition ofthe selection button etc. to be displayed, in the sub picture signalSspd on the basis of a high light control information Sch from thesystem controller 100 to output it.

The decoded video signal Svd outputted from the video decoder 88 and thedecoded sub picture signal Sspd outputted from the sub picture decoder90 (which is in synchronization with the corresponding decoded videosignal Svd) are mixed together by the mixer 91, and are outputted as afinal video signal Svp to be displayed to a display device such as a CRT(Cathode Ray Tube) device not illustrated.

The audio buffer 92, to which the audio signal Sad is inputted, consistsof a FIFO memory, for example. The audio buffer 92 temporarily storesthe audio signal Sad and outputs it to the audio decoder 93. The audiobuffer 92 is to synchronize the audio signal Sad with the video signalSv or the sub picture signal Ssp including the corresponding videoinformation, and delays the audio signal Sad in accordance with theoutput condition of the corresponding video information. Then, the audiosignal Sad, which is time-adjusted to synchronize with the correspondingvideo information, is outputted to the audio decoder 93. Then, apredetermined decoding process is applied thereat to the audio signalSad, and it is outputted as a decoded audio signal Sadd to a speakeretc. not illustrated. If it is detected by the system controller 100that it is necessary to temporarily stop (pause) the audio voice in thereproduction immediately after accessing, a pause signal Sca isoutputted from the system controller 100 to the audio decoder 93, sothat the output of the decoded audio signal Sadd is stopped temporarilyat the audio decoder 93.

The PCI buffer 94, to which the PCI signal Spc is inputted, consists ofa FIFO memory, for example. The PCI buffer 94 temporarily stores theinputted PCI signal Spc and outputs it to the PCI decoder 95. The PCIbuffer 94 is to synchronize the PCI packet 50, which is included in thePCI signal Spc, with the video information, the audio information andthe sub picture information corresponding to the PCI packet 50, andapply the PCI packet 50 to the video information and the like. Then,from the PCI signal Spc, which is synchronized with the correspondingthe video information and the like by the PCI buffer 94, a high lightinformation included in the PCI packet 50 is separated or extracted bythe PCI decoder 95, and is outputted as a high light signal Shi to thehigh light buffer 96. The portion of the PCI packet 50 other than thehigh light information is outputted as a PCI information signal Spci tothe system controller 100.

The high light buffer 96, to which the high light signal Shi isinputted, consists of a FIFO memory, for example. The high light buffer96 temporarily stores the inputted high light signal Shi and outputs itto the high light decoder 97. The high light buffer 96 is totime-compensate the high light signal Shi so as to precisely perform achange in the display condition of the selection item, which correspondsto the high light information, in correspondence with the sub picturesignal Ssp which includes the video information for the high lightinformation. Then, the time-compensated high light signal Shi is decodedby the high light decoder 97, and the information included in the highlight signal Shi is outputted as a decoded high light signal Shid to thesystem controller 100. Here, the system controller 100 outputs theaforementioned high light control signal Sch to change the displaycondition by the high light information, on the basis of the decodedhigh light signal Shid.

On the basis of the control information Sc inputted from the systembuffer 85, the control signal Sdmx inputted from the demultiplexer 86,the PCI information signal Spci inputted from the PCI decoder 95 and aninput signal Sin inputted from the input unit 98 such as a remotecontroller, the system controller 100 outputs the aforementioned switchsignal Ssw2, the language selection signal Slc, the pause signal Sca andthe high light control signal Sch to correctly perform the reproductioncorresponding to those input signals, and also outputs a display signalSdp to display an operation condition etc. of the reproducing apparatusS2 to the display unit 99 such as the liquid crystal device.

Further, the system controller 100 outputs a seamless control signalScs1 corresponding to the track jump process such as a search processetc., to the drive controller 101, when it detects by the control signalSc or the aforementioned DSI data etc. that it is necessary to performthe track jump process such as a search in order to perform the seamlessreproduction.

Then, the drive controller 101, to which the seamless control signalScs1 is inputted, outputs a drive signal Sd to the spindle motor 102 orthe slider motor 103. By this drive signal Sd, the spindle motor 102 orthe slider motor 103 moves the optical pickup 80 such that the recordposition to be reproduced on the DVD 1 is irradiated with the light beamB (refer to an arrow of a broken line in FIG. 10), and the spindle motor102 CLV-controls (Constant Linear Velocity-controls) the rotation numberof the DVD 1. Along with this, the drive controller 101 outputs theaforementioned switch signal Ssw1 on the basis of the seamless controlsignal Scs1, so as to open the stream switch 82 when the demodulationsignal Sdm is not outputted from the demodulate and correct unit 81while the optical pickup 80 is being moved, and so as to close thestream switch 82 when the demodulation signal Sdm is started to beoutputted, so that the demodulation signal Sdm is outputted to the trackbuffer 83.

Nextly, the process of highlight-displaying the sub picture informationstored or packed in the PCI packet of each navi-pack, on the basis ofthe highlight general information HL-GI as a feature of the presentembodiment is explained in more detail.

In the above explained reproduction process, the demultiplexer 86outputs the PCI signal Spc corresponding to the PCI data contained inthe PCI packet 50 of the navi-pack 41 as shown in FIG. 1. At this time,in the PCI signal Spc, the highlight signal Shi corresponding to thehighlight information including the highlight general information HL-GIshown in the table of FIG. 5, is included. Then, this highlight signalShi is extracted by the PCI decoder 95 from the PCI signal Spc outputtedby the PCI buffer 94 at the start point or PTS (Presentation Time Stamp)of the corresponding VOBU, and is outputted to the system controller 100as the decoded highlight signal Shid through the highlight butter 96 andthe highlight decoder 97. Then, the system controller 100 performs thechange of the display condition or the execution of the button commandaccording to the highlight information, on the basis of the decodedhighlight signal Shid, as following.

Namely, if the value of the HLI-SS data, which is included in theinformation 201 indicative of the “highlight status” shown in FIG. 6 andlocated at the head portion of the highlight general information HL-GIindicated by this decoded highlight signal Shid, is “00”, since noeffective highlight information exists, the highlight informationincluded in the PCI packet thereafter is treated as ineffective and isnot referred to. Then, the system controller 100 outputs to the subpicture decoder 90 the highlight control signal Sch to instruct that nohighlight display is to be performed (alternatively, it does not outputthe highlight control signal Sch). Further, in this case, the buttoncommand doe not exist either.

On the other hand, if this value of the HLI-SS data is “01”, the systemcontroller 100 refers to all of the highlight information on and afterthe HLI-SS data, generates the highlight control signal Sch to instructan execution of a new highlight display according to the content of thehighlight information, and outputs it to the sub picture decoder 90, soas to execute the highlight display based on the highlight informationincluded in the PCI packet in the navi-pack different from that of theprevious VOBU. Further, the system controller 100 stores the new buttoncommand into the built-in memory thereof by referring to the highlightinformation, and executes the button command corresponding to theselection item (button) when either one of the buttons displayed by thesub picture is selected and confirmed. In this case especially, theHLT-SPTS data (see FIG. 7) indicative of the “highlight start point” atthe accuracy of 90 kHz within the highlight general information HL-GI isreferred to. Then, the highlight control signal Sch is generated suchthat the head byte of the video frame of the sub picture datacorresponding to this highlight start is outputted from the sub picturedecoder 90 at the highlight start time described in this referred data.Further, in this case, the HLT-EPTS data (see FIG. 8) indicative of the“highlight end point” at the accuracy of 90 kHz within the highlightgeneral information HL-GI is referred to. Then, the highlight controlsignal Sch is generated such that the head byte of the video frame ofthe sub picture data corresponding to this highlight end is outputtedfrom the sub picture decoder 90 at the highlight end time described inthis referred data. Incidentally, the highlight start time must be notshorter (i.e. not later) than the display start time of the sub pictureas an object of the highlight, while the highlight end time must be notlonger (i.e. not earlier) than the display end time of the sub pictureas the object of the highlight. Otherwise, the highlight display cannotbe performed normally since the sub picture to be the object of thehighlight display dose not exist. Further, as aforementioned, the buttoncommand, which is executed at the time when the button is selected andconfirmed, is also effective only during the time period or durationbetween the highlight start time and the highlight end time.

If the value of this HLI-SS data is “10”, the system controller 100 doesnot refer to the highlight information after the HLI-SS data, generatesthe highlight control signal Sch to instruct the execution of thehighlight display as it is according to the highlight information readin at the time of the previous VOBU, and outputs it to the sub picturedecoder 90, so as to perform the highlight display based on thehighlight information included in the PCI packet of the navi-pack of thepertinent VOBU same as that of the previous VOBU. In this case, theprevious button command is stored as it is.

Furthermore, if the value of this HLI-SS data is “11”, only the buttoncommand BTN-CMD described in the pertinent highlight information isnewly stored. Then, when the button is selected and confirmed, thecontent of this newly stored button command is executed. Also, thehighlight control signal Sch to instruct that the highlight displayaccording to the content of the highlight information other than thebutton command, which has been referred to at the time of the previousVOBU, is generated, and outputted to the sub picture decoder 90.

In this case also, the HLT-SPTS data (see FIG. 7) indicative of the“highlight start point” within the highlight general information HL-GIis referred to. Then, the highlight control signal Sch is generated suchthat the head byte of the video frame of the sub picture datacorresponding to this highlight start is outputted from the sub picturedecoder 90 at the highlight start time described in this referred data.Further, in this case, the HLT-EPTS data (see FIG. 8) indicative of the“highlight end point” within the highlight general information HL-GI isreferred to. Then, the highlight control signal Sch is generated suchthat the head byte of the video frame of the sub picture datacorresponding to this highlight end is outputted from the sub picturedecoder 90 at the highlight end time described in this referred data.

In the above explained examples, the information 201 is referred toafter the whole of the information 201 is read in the highlight buffer96. However, it is also possible to perform this referring processearlier than that, so that only the portion of the highlight informationto be updated is outputted to the highlight buffer 96. Further, in theabove explanation, the “previous VOBU” is defined as the VOBU which isoutputted from the demultiplexer one VOBU previous to the pertinent VOBUoutputted therefrom. In this case, the content of the “highlight startpoint” and the content of the “highlight end point” are the same asthose of the previous VOBU, while the new button command is madeeffective from the start point of the new VOBU.

As described above in detail, according to the reproducing apparatus S2of the present embodiment, by referring to the information indicative ofthe start point and the end point of the highlight which is described inthe highlight general information HL-GI included in the PCI packetwithin each navi-pack as the occasion demands, it is possible to specifythe start of the highlight display or the reception of the buttoncommand to execute, at the time corresponding to a desired GOP or videoframe within each navi-pack. Further, it is possible to specify the endof the highlight display or the reception of the button command toexecute at the time corresponding to a desired GOP or video frame. As aresult, it is possible for the reproducing apparatus S2 to perform thehighlight display of the sub picture precisely as for the time, on theGUI picture plane formed by superimposing the sub picture on the mainpicture for example, on the basis of these informations indicating thestart point and the end point.

As described above, the present embodiment is suitable for such anapplication that the highlight information is made effective only withina specific time duration during the reproduction e.g. such anapplication that the relationship between the timing of the highlightand the timing of the operation by the audience is an important gamefactor, such as a quick answering quiz, a mole beating game and thelike. Hereinbelow, these concrete examples are explained.

Firstly, the example of the quick answering quiz is explained. Forexample, it is assumed that a plurality of numerals are dispersed on apicture plane, and that only either one of these numerals is lightened(highlighted) for a very short time period by use of the highlightinformation including the highlight effective time period. With respectto this, the audience inputs the key for the numeral which ishighlighted. However, the time period or duration during which thisinput is received by the reproducing apparatus S2 is only the highlighteffective time period, such that, only when the input of the key same asthe highlighted key is received during this period, the point is addedinto the score of the register by the button command. At this time, ifthe different key is inputted or the input of the key input is late, thebutton command is not executed, and thereby the score is not changed. Inthe game of competing as for the score in this manner, the presentembodiment is effective. Incidentally, in this example, the backgroundpicture plane is displayed by the main picture, while the numeral issuperimposed thereon by the sub picture and the numeral is lightened bythe highlight information.

Next, the example of mole beating game is explained. In this example, aplurality of moles who are coming out of holes here and there aredisplayed by the main picture, while a transparent sub picture issuperimposed at every position where the mole comes out. And that, thehighlight information, which is made effective only during the veryshort time period or duration during which the mole comes out of thehole, is described in the PCI packet of the corresponding VOBU. Thehighlight information is prescribed such that, only when the key inputis executed with respect to a position where the mole comes out duringthis effective time period, this position is highlighted, and thecorresponding button command is executed. The point is added to thescore in the same manner as in the previous example. Incidentally, if itis not necessary to change the display on the picture plane at the timeof the corresponding key input, only the command may be apparentlyexecuted by performing a transparent highlight at the time of executingthe command. As in this example, since it is possible to only performthe command without performing the highlight at the time of buttonselection or confirmation, the information as for the highlight startpoint and end point may be defined with respect to only the buttoncommand.

Here, the aspect of the above mentioned time management of the highlightdisplay and the operation control of the sub picture is explained as foreach case of the present embodiment and the comparison example withreference to a timing chart of FIG. 11.

In FIG. 11, the PCI signal included in each navi-pack in the read outdata is decoded at the time indicated by the VOBU start PTS(Presentation Time Stamp) included in the PCI signal itself and is madeeffective. Then, if the main picture signal exists in the VOBU, itbecomes the VOBU start PTS of the display start of the main picturesignal. The start and end of the display can be set for the sub picturesignal independently from the main picture, by the command related tothe display included in the sub picture signal itself.

As a comparison example in contrast to the present embodiment, such anexample is assumed that the highlight start or end information does notexist in the highlight information. In this case, it is inevitable tostart the highlight at the display start of the sub picturecorresponding to the VOBU start PTS of the PCI signal including thehighlight information, and that the display end must be matched with theoutput end of the VOBU of the PCI signal including the same highlightinformation or the display end of the corresponding sub picture signal.Further, in this comparison example, the time period or duration duringwhich the sub picture is highlight-displayed is slightly changed orfluctuated depending upon the process time of each buffer, each decoderetc., and also the data amount included in each sub picture pack 44 andeach navi-pack 44. Namely, if the specification of the informationreproducing apparatus is different, the highlight display of the subpicture to be highlight-displayed is delayed or accelerated by an amountcorresponding to the error between the respective reproducingapparatuses. Furthermore, since the highlight display is prescribed forthe unit of the VOBU 30 for each navi-pack 41, it is impossible toprescribe the start or end of the highlight display by the unit of theGOP or the video frame, for example.

On the contrary to this, according to the present embodiment, since thestart and end of the highlight can be arbitrarily set by the timeindicated at the unit of 90 kHz independently from the display start orend of the main picture or sub picture, it is possible to perform thehighlight display, to which the precise correlation is given with thehighlight display in a very short time period and the time change of thecontent of the main picture.

As aforementioned, if the display of the highlight information isstarted during the display time period of the corresponding VOBU, whichis different from each highlight information, the highlight start andend in formation of the highlight information is described in thepertinent highlight information. If the highlight information iseffective and if the highlight information is the same as the previoushighlight information completely or partially other than the buttoncommand, the highlight start and end information of the highlightinformation which has been displayed form the previous VOBU is describedin the pertinent highlight information. The arrows of the highlightstart and end in FIG. 11 indicate the above mentioned relationships.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is veryconvenient that the effective time period of the highlight informationcan be set by the frame unit independently form the start position ofthe VOBU or the start position of the sub picture.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presentembodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects asillustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention beingindicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoingdescription and all changes which come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

1. An information reproducing apparatus for reproducing an informationrecord medium, the information record medium comprising imageinformation, and highlight information for highlighting the imageinformation, including time management information for highlightdisplay, the information reproducing apparatus comprising: a reader thatreads the image information and the highlight information from theinformation record medium; a first decoder that decodes the imageinformation; a second decoder that decodes the highlight information;and a controller that controls the highlight display of the imageinformation in accordance with the highlight information and the timemanagement information.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, whereinthe time management information defines a time period during which thehighlight display is to be effective, wherein the controller controlsthe highlight display such that the highlight display is performedduring the time period.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, whereinthe time management information includes a start time informationindicating a start time of highlight display and end time informationindicating an end time of the highlight display, wherein the controllercontrols the highlight display such that the highlight display isstarted at a timing corresponding to the start time information and thehighlight display is terminated at a timing corresponding to the endtime information.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein thecontroller controls the highlight display independently from a displayof the image information.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 3, whereinthe start time of highlight display is at the same time as or later thana start time of displaying the image information to be highlighted andthe end time of the highlight display is at the same time as or earlierthan an end time of displaying the image information to be highlighted.6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the highlight informationis contained in a presentation control information unit and furtherincludes highlight status information indicating status of highlightinformation in the presentation control information unit, and whereinthe controller controls the highlight display in accordance with thestatus information.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein thestatus includes at least one of 1) there is no valid highlightinformation in the presentation control information unit, 2) thehighlight information is different from highlight information in aprevious presentation control information unit, 3) the highlightinformation is the same as highlight information in a previouspresentation control information unit, and 4) the highlight informationis partly the same as highlight information in a previous presentationcontrol information unit.
 8. The apparatus according to claim 1, whereinthe image information is sub picture information, wherein the recordmedium further includes video information, wherein the apparatus furtherincludes a third decoder which decodes the video information, and amixer which mixes the video information and the sub picture information.9. An information recording apparatus, comprising: a processing unitwhich generates image information and highlight information forhighlighting the image information, which includes time managementinformation for highlight display; and a recording unit which recordsthe image information and the highlight information onto a recordingmedium.
 10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the timemanagement information defines a time period during which the highlightdisplay is to be effective.
 11. The apparatus according to claim 10,wherein the time management information includes a start timeinformation indicating a start time of highlight display and end timeinformation indicating an end time of the highlight display.
 12. Theapparatus according to claim 10, wherein the time management informationenables the highlight display independently from a display of the imageinformation.
 13. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the starttime of highlight display is at the same time as or later than a starttime of displaying the image information to be highlighted and the endtime of the highlight display is at the same time as or earlier than anend time of displaying the image information to be highlighted.
 14. Theapparatus according to claim 9, wherein the highlight information iscontained in a presentation control information unit and furtherincludes highlight status information indicating status of highlightinformation in the presentation control information unit.
 15. Theapparatus according to claim 14, wherein the status includes at leastone of 1) there is no valid highlight information in the presentationcontrol information unit, 2) the highlight information is different fromhighlight information in a previous presentation control informationunit, 3) the highlight information is the same as highlight informationin a previous presentation control information unit, and 4) thehighlight information is partly the same as highlight information in aprevious presentation control information unit.
 16. The apparatusaccording to claim 9, wherein the highlight information further includesa plurality of button information each of which indicates a selectionbranch or an option displayed by the image information.
 17. Theapparatus according to claim 9, wherein the image information is subpicture information, and wherein the processing unit further generatesvideo information.
 18. An information reproducing method for reproducingan information record medium, the information record medium comprisingimage information, and highlight information for highlighting the imageinformation, including time management information for highlightdisplay, the information reproducing method comprising the steps of:reading the image information and the highlight information from theinformation record medium; decoding the image information; decoding thehighlight information; and controlling the highlight display of theimage information in accordance with the highlight information and thetime management information.
 19. The method according to claim 18,wherein the time management information defines a time period duringwhich the highlight display is to be effective, wherein the step ofcontrolling controls the highlight display such that the highlightdisplay is performed during the time period.
 20. The method according toclaim 19, wherein the time management information includes a start timeinformation indicating a start time of highlight display and end timeinformation indicating an end time of the highlight display, wherein thestep of controlling controls the highlight display such that thehighlight display is started at a timing corresponding to the start timeinformation and the highlight display is terminated at a timingcorresponding to the end time information.
 21. The method according toclaim 19, wherein the step of controlling controls the highlight displayindependently from a display of the image information.
 22. The methodaccording to claim 20, wherein the start time of highlight display is atthe same time as or later than a start time of displaying the imageinformation to be highlighted and the end time of the highlight displayis at the same time as or earlier than an end time of displaying theimage information to be highlighted.
 23. The method according to claim18, wherein the highlight information is contained in a presentationcontrol information unit and further includes highlight statusinformation indicating status of highlight information in thepresentation control information unit, and wherein the step ofcontrolling controls the highlight display in accordance with the statusinformation.
 24. The method according to claim 23, wherein the statusincludes at least one of 1) there is no valid highlight information inthe presentation control information unit, 2) the highlight informationis different from highlight information in a previous presentationcontrol information unit, 3) the highlight information is the same ashighlight information in a previous presentation control informationunit, and 4) the highlight information is partly the same as highlightinformation in a previous presentation control information unit.
 25. Themethod according to claim 18, wherein the image information is subpicture information, wherein the recording medium further includes videoinformation, and wherein the method further includes the steps of:decoding the video information, and mixing the video information and thesub picture information.
 26. An information recording method, comprisingthe steps of: generating image information and highlight information forhighlighting the image information, which includes time managementinformation for highlight display; and recording the image informationand the highlight information onto a recording medium.
 27. The methodaccording to claim 26, wherein the time management information defines atime period during which the highlight display is to be effective. 28.The method according to claim 27, wherein the time managementinformation includes a start time information indicating a start time ofhighlight display and end time information indicating an end time of thehighlight display.
 29. The method according to claim 27, wherein thetime management information enables the highlight display independentlyfrom a display of the image information.
 30. The method according toclaim 28, wherein the start time of highlight display is at the sametime as or later than a start time of displaying the image informationto be highlighted and the end time of the highlight display is at thesame time as or earlier than an end time of displaying the imageinformation to be highlighted.
 31. The method according to claim 26,wherein the highlight information is contained in a presentation controlinformation unit and further includes highlight status informationindicating status of highlight information in the presentation controlinformation unit.
 32. The method according to claim 31, wherein thestatus includes at least one of 1) there is no valid highlightinformation in the presentation control information unit, 2) thehighlight information is different from highlight information in aprevious presentation control information unit, 3) the highlightinformation is the same as highlight information in a previouspresentation control information unit, and 4) the highlight informationis partly the same as highlight information in a previous presentationcontrol information unit.
 33. The method according to claim 26, whereinthe highlight information further includes a plurality of buttoninformation each of which indicates a selection branch or an optiondisplayed by the image information.
 34. The method according to claim26, wherein the image information is sub picture information, andwherein the step of generating further generates video information.